Five fab finds from Home + Housewares Show

Over the weekend, the International Home + Housewares Show landed in Chicago.  Imagine a really, really huge Bed, Bath, and Beyond (with a gourmet food section) and you have an idea of what it's like.  I only covered a portion of one of the three sections, but will be going back for more!  In the meantime, here's a quick peek at five products I think you'll love...

	The Stocked Kitchen Available online, $27.00 A must-have for busy home cooks, The Stocked Kitchen is "a revolutionary new system designed to standardize the ingredients of your kitchen.  Instead of choosing a recipe and buying the ingredients it calls for, stay 'Stocked' with the items on one complete grocery list, and you can make any of over 300 recipes".  Each book comes with a re-orderable, magnetic grocery pad, pre-printed with the ingredients used in the book.
	Anthony Grace Collection Available online, range of prices From a family owned company here in Chicago comes a line of spice-infused white hot chocolate, popcorn, ice cream fusions, and coffee. I sampled the Indian Kari white hot chocolate (made from shaved white chocolate, Indian curry, and cloves) and was so impressed with the velvety texture and delicate flavor.  I'm looking forward to buying some more products in the future. Anthony Grace is small, local, and luxe...three things I love in a company!
	Playful Chef Available at select retailers Kids today.  Whereas I had an Easy-Bake oven (actually, I think it was an Easy-Bake Microwave oven...so trendy in the late '70s) children now get their very own cooking kits so they can make real food alongside the grown-ups.  Playful Chef has a complete line of cooking kits, party planners, placemats (love the French food mat!), and more to mold your little epicurean.
	Hot Squeeze Available online and at select retailers YUM!  This was delicious!  Hot Squeeze is a versatile sauce that claims it can be put on just about anything and, well...I agree.  As I was sampling it, I could imagine it on pork, flatbread, eggs, ice cream (maybe as a clever summertime amuse bouche?), chicken, etc.  The flavor is spicy but not painful, a bit sweet but not cloyingly so, and it finishes with a bit of smoke.  Perfection! Need more reasons to try? Read  inventor Sue's story. So inspiring to hear about people with an idea who just go for it!
	TWIST Available online, $169.00 The TWIST by mypressi is a portable espresso maker that "uses fresh ground coffee or standard ESE pods and requires no pumping, priming or compressing to make one perfect shot after another. Requiring no external power, the twist uses standard recyclable 8gm N2O cartridges, available online or at almost any quality kitchen goods retailer." Much less expensive than a standard espresso maker, for the same result! Tea drinkers, take note: It also makes a delicious roiboos tea "espresso".

Comments

[lynne]

The cookbook looks excellent - I never feel like mine is stocked well enough.

[CJW]

Love the Playful Chef sets-- now I know what to get the niece for her upcoming 4th birthday! Thanks for the tip!

[Nikki]

This Playful Chef set and other PC sets can be found at a site I frequent: www.chocolatecaksclub.com Lots of great products here!